I would like to start reading/studying Bible, but not aure where to start

[roslily]

Which is a bit ridiculous as I am a Theology graduate and RE teacher! But I haven't ever really done it in a religious way, only academic. So I can tell you what my year 10's need to know for their exam, but haven't looked at it for personal guidance.

I have recently started to go to church and I feel that I am being called to read and study, but I don't know where to start. Is there a good book or something?

I am going to ask at my church too.

I think the best starting point is the Bible itself - Mark's gospel is usually agreed to be the earliest, and gives a clear view of what the earliest church thought about Jesus. Read it in chunks, and think about it, and pray about it.

If there are bits you don't understand, then there are many, many books out there which discuss the bible, but I think it's important to read it and think about it yourself first, not start from what someone else thinks about it.

I wouldn't recommend reading it from beginning to end as you will find that some books early on are very hardgoing. Strating with the gospels is a good idea.

I don't know off the top of my head any good devotional books, but I know they are available, where they guide you to read different bits every day

Also, there are different ways of reading it. You said you are looking to it for personal guidance. You can read it meditatively or imaginately so that the passages speak to you and where you are. I will try to find some links....

here's one to start www.loyolapress.com/praying-the-ignatian-way-reflective-prayer.htm

I have a list of passages that I was recommended to start with, but they are in the room where my DD is having a nap so will get them later! But you can start with any one - for instance, as we are in Holy week, you could start with passages that relate to that.

Good luck!

Genesis

Sorry yes I should have said, start by focussing on the New Testament - there are chunks of the OT which are very important too of course, but if you are coming at this from a Christian perspective then the NT is the key to it, and the OT should be read in the light of that.

If your church uses a lectionary, you could use that to pick out bits of the OT as you go - many churches will read an OT passage which relates to the NT readings for that day, so if you read a little before and after the church service reading, you'll get a wider feel of it without getting too bogged down.

I am currently reading and enjoying this
A beginners guide to the bible - very easy to dip into as you read the relavant parts o of the bible itself.
Its aimed at those who know nothing of the bible but can also be enjoyed by people who know quite a lot more and its less than £10 to buy

I like these bible reading notes

I hope that helps

Thanks, that is very helful.

There are loads of bible reading notes available online or in a christian bookshop (daily bread, encounter with god, cover to cover are a few that come to mind. But there are many more). Also, some advice I was given about reading the bible on my own is to ask three questions: what does this verse/passage teach me about myself? about God? about my relationship with God?

My friend was a theology graduate and a christian. She had two different bibles, one for her theology course and another for her own reading, so she could write the right stuff in the margins.

Good luck, and keep at it.

I've tried various bible study notes - the ones I like most are called "Day by Day with God" (written by women for women) but I think it is very much personal preference. I've also recently bought an NIV life application study bible which I'm finding helpful - because there are extensive notes throughout rather than just on specific passages as you get in reading notes I can follow a thread and look up references as I'm reading.

I agree with starting with the NT first. I like Tom Wright's "for everyone" series, for example "Mark for everyone", which takes a passage, chats about it, before going onto the next passage. John Barton does 2 very useful guides, which I'd recommend to someone with a reasonable academic grounding, there's one called "Introducing the New Testament" and similar for the OT. Has lots of useful background info.

I use this particularly because I am not good at prayer. However this has passages of scripture for each day too. It's really verfy good.

I can be quite up and down with my bible reading, but I would agree with most people and say start with one of the gospels such as Mark and then maybe tackle one of the letters such as Romans or Corinthians, Paul is such a dude!

I always love going through books of the bible with 'The bible speaks today' books. They include the passage of scripture in with the text so you can stick them in your bag and grab five minutes to read a short paragraph.

I like them because they do a bit of an academic slant and life application within them plus I can read them in longer or shorter chunks as I wish.

I started with a bible stories book, but as part of our religion we have a number of aids to help, we have daily scribtures book, which is short and sweet and easy to read while eating breakfast and another "what does the bible teach" book. Its helps no end, but i love studying it with someone else that has more experience than me. HTH

Here is an easy to read Bible reading plan that takes you through key passages in the Bible in 100 readings called The Essential 100. Here is the web site and you can download the reading program for free....site.e100challenge.biz/downloads/e100_planner.pdf
Once you finish this, try our DISCOVERY Bible reading guide that will take you through every book in the Bible in four years. Blessings Bruce

hello..i would advise (as a theology post grad as well!!) that a commentary on any of the scripture texts you wish to read. these are written by experts who are excellent at explaining the symbolism in the texts...and a good question by the way, because many people feel that reading the Bible, cover to cover, makes them an expert. this is not necessarily true. it must be interpreted correctly to appreciate its true message.

I would begin with the Old Testament as each and every text in Scripture is interrelated. this is knowns as 'intertextuality' so reading one isolated Synoptic (Mark, Matthew and Luke are the synoptics) is not really a good place to begin. its like jumping in to the Grand Canyon!
Start with the older prophets, eg Isaiah, Amos, Ezra etc...their accounts are laced with symbolism. Also the book of Ruth ( a symbolic story about interreligious marriages and the loyalty of a woman to another and her rich rewards) Then if you want rich symbolism, the 'Fourth Gospel' or John's Gospel (NT) is wonderful, He is known as the beloved disciple, the one closest to Jesus. Mark is the first of the three synoptics as the other person commented. His account is written approx 62A.D. and dont forget, the Gospels are entitled 'The Gospel ACCORDING To' which means that someone else wrote them for the disciples. another point, the first miracle is prophecised by Mary who told the host at the wedding of Cana to do what Jesus tells him. this is the significance behind this story and not marriage as is commonly and incorrectly understood. There is no reference to marriage except this event in this story. All the stories are metaphors or parables. not to be taken literally but are faith based. if you 'see' you see what is supposed to be etc...hope that helps!!

Reference to Pau's letters above...very good and valid point. Paul was very tempermental and he loved the Romans. The Corinthians 1 he was angry but in 2 he stepped back a bit. Galatians, oooh my he was not happy with them because they focused on idolatry (idolising false Gods). The letter to the Romans was written when Paul was in prison, he was much older. so he took his time writing this. hope this helps!